Dance Connects in Rural Border Regions

Cavan County Council

Dance Connects partners local authorities of Cavan, Monaghan and Fermanagh-Omagh with practitioners of diverse dance communities working across professional, amateur and community dance in contemporary, jive/country, line/social, Sean-Nós, hip hop/urban, Scottish Country and Flamenco in border area ... s and researchers Dr Victoria Durrer (School of Art History and Cultural Policy, UCD) and Professor Aoife McGrath (School of Arts, English and Languages, QUB). 

Employing an innovative, creative engagement approach combining dance practice-as-research and social science, the project strategically builds on the partners’ existing relationships. Working together, partners responded to an expressed need for sustainable cross-border exchange that informs policy and is meaningful to the unique dance ecology of rural, cross-border areas. With the support of a team of artists and researchers, Argyro Tsampazi, Helena Hamilton, Simon Mills and Sorca McGrath, the partners are developing: a publicly available, cross-border dance database; a touring, interactive, digital dance installation and public engagement programme; and website with video, podcasts and reports capturing regionally shared experiences of dance as a professional, enjoyable, social, cultural and creative activity.

Birds of a Feather

Clare County Council

Birds of a Feather is a multi-annual, cross-border initiative connecting women from Ballymac Friendship Trust (Belfast), Ballinasloe Women’s Group, Inishbofin Craft Group, and Ennis Women’s Community Group through craft, enterprise, and storytelling. The project fosters meaningful relationships thro ... ugh creative collaboration—sharing skills, stories, and experiences. Many participants are engaging in all-island work for the first time and represent diverse backgrounds, including Catholic, Protestant, Nationalist, Loyalist, Ethnic Minorities, Travellers, Islanders, inner-city communities, the Deaf Community, and individuals with physical disabilities or mild dementia. Crafting together creates a safe, inclusive space for dialogue, mutual understanding, and respect. Managed by Clare County Council’s Creative Ireland office in partnership with Galway County Council, the initiative aims to build lasting connections through creativity and shared experiences.

Farm Walks

Leitrim County Council

The Farm Walks project is co-created by Leitrim County Council Arts Office, The Dock Arts Centre with The Leitrim Sustainable Agriculture Group and the Ulster Wildlife Farmers’ Group in Fermanagh with the aim of building cross-border cooperation, to explore the common ground between farmers and arti ... sts, and to highlight shared farming and environmental interests.

In 2024 the programme consisted of 6 farm walks which featured a tour of each farm and a talk by an invited artist whose work resonated with that farm. This led to the development of the current programme, providing the opportunity for artists and farmers to work together over several months on projects of shared interest.

The programme provides a platform for creative collaboration between artists and farmers recognising that there is a real demand, not only from farmers looking to explore the capacity of creativity to influence what they do, but also by artists wanting to explore their practice in a farm environment.

The Ties That Bind

Cork County Council

Following the success of its first year, the acclaimed and unique Shared Island cultural exchange project, The Ties That Bind, returns in 2025 with a second iteration of cross-community collaboration between two of Ireland’s best-known and well-loved venues from opposite corners of the island - Levi ... s' Corner House (Ballydehob, West Cork) and The Duncairn (North Belfast).

Since July 2024, local artists from each area have taken part in residential exchanges, swapping rural Ballydehob, West Cork for the Inner-City North Belfast, and vice versa. The two organisations have also successfully taken over each other’s venues and programmed weekends of music, spoken word, storytelling and community engagement. This year through a shared Creative Collective, artists will collaborate on new work, inspiring participation and dialogue and bringing the two communities – over 500km apart - even closer together.

Building Shared Creative Communities

Waterford City and County Council

Building Shared Creative Communities is a collaborative project which weaves together commonalities in themes such as heritage, literature and the arts in Waterford and Mid and East Antrim. Communities in both areas are invited to participate in activities including weaving workshops, author events, ... circular economy talks, and heritage based creative sessions, bringing about new understanding and friendships across borders. Waterford City and County Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council facilitated study trips to both regions, knitting the strands together including visits to heritage farms, arts centres and museums with discussion about the relevance of micro-creative businesses and social enterprises in rural and urban regeneration. Community engagement supported murals to be created in villages in both counties, reflecting the project themes and leaving a legacy from the overall project for local communities.

Laces of Ireland

Limerick City and County Council

Laces of Ireland is a project, led by Limerick City and County Council in collaboration with experienced voluntary groups. The project focuses on supporting collaboration and exchanges between lace maker groups and heritage institutions on the island of Ireland. Project collaborators include Friends ... of Lace Limerick; the South Armagh Lace Collective; Limerick Museum; Armagh County Museum; and Cork Public Museum. The long-term goal is to create and promote a lace trail through many historical lacemaking centres on the island. A joint calendar of events across 2024 and 2025 included exhibitions in each location as well as a digital platform and a trail map.

Sharing Songs and Unforgettable Voices

Fingal County Council

Sharing Songs and Unforgettable Voices is an all-island creative partnership established between the Forget Me Nots Choir based in Baldoyle, North Dublin, This Is Me Choir from Larne, and Community Arts Partnership ‘CAP’ in Belfast.

The project has spanned two years - 2024/25 - where ... we create and nurture connections with choir members, North and South, through singing, music, poetry, shared creative learning and public performances in both communities. The project includes the commission of two new songs, inspired by all choir members, which will be performed on both sides of the border and captured in a shared memory book. This will be more than just a concert—it will be a celebration of unity, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds formed through music.

Clare Mela

Clare County Council

Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning "gathering" or "to meet", and Clare Mela brings together a diverse group of performers, local community groups, and audiences for one day of street performance and spectacle, bringing celebration and joy for all the family. Led by Clare County Council with partners Fi ... dget Feet and Shannon Tidy Towns as well as ArtsEkta, Clare and Belfast Mela are deeply committed to engaging with all communities and traditions, including those of newer communities on the island of Ireland. This project allows for the Mela Communities in Ireland to work together across the island both in the presentation of cultural and artistic performances but also by fostering creative opportunities for connection through social interaction, engagement and dialogue.

Contemporary Cities 2025

Limerick City and County Council

Contemporary Cities 2025 brings together the communities of the Limerick School of Music (LSOM) and the Ulster Youth Orchestra (UYO) with the world-renowned contemporary music ensemble Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble (HRSE). The initiative is to facilitate and empower both the young people and teaching s ... taff, within the Limerick and Belfast youth orchestral communities, to develop their creative expression and experience creativity in their own cities through the lens of their counterparts. Through participation in this programme of cultural activity there will be a drive in both their personal and collective creativity, thus contributing to their individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. The programme commenced with workshops in Limerick in 2024, followed by pop up chamber music and orchestral performances in The Titanic Experience in April 2025. Autumn 2025 will build on this through work with a contemporary music composer with connections north and south, leading to performances in Limerick City.

I Lár An Aonaigh

Dublin City Council

In response to growing public interest in Irish-language arts and cultural events, I Lár An Aonaigh aims to empower the next generation of cultural producers and project managers working trí Ghaeilge.

Developed in partnership with the Scene + Heard Festival, this cross-border initiati ... ve brings together twelve emerging cultural producers from North and South of the island. Through a combination of practical workshops, expert-led lectures, and structured networking events in Dublin and Belfast, participants gain the skills, confidence, and industry insight needed to programme and manage cultural events of any scale through the Irish language.

I Lár An Aonaigh addresses the urgent need to expand the community of creative producers working through Irish, while also fostering shared resources and professional networks across the island.

Shared Histories: Diverse Views

Donegal County Council

This cross-border project, organised by Photo Museum Ireland in partnership with Donegal County Council, The Nerve Centre Derry-Londonderry, the National Library of Ireland, was led by artist and curator Ben Malcolmson. It was a transformative initiative that engaged communities by exploring their h ... eritage and shared experiences through the medium of photography as a tool for cultural preservation and storytelling. By forging connections through creative engagement, this project challenged stereotypes by sharing authentic presentations of the borderlands and fostered mutual understanding and cooperation between diverse groups, through a public programme of co-curated public events.

Columbanus Connections: A Creative Weekend of Shared Pilgrimage and Heritage

Carlow County Council

Led by Carlow County Council with Friends of Columbanus Bangor, Carlow hosted the XXVI Columbanus Day celebration from July 11th to 13th, 2025. This significant occasion honoured St. Columbanus, one of Ireland’s most influential early missionaries, recognised for his contributions to the spiritual a ... nd cultural foundation of Europe. Columbanus was born in Carlow, in the shadow of the Blackstairs Mountains.

The three-day event was a rich blend of cultural, spiritual and communal experiences. Highlights included the launch of the exhibition “Ireland and the Birth of Europe,” a symposium exploring the relationship between creation and spirituality, and a walk along the picturesque Columban Way, that is part of Turas Columbanus, a north-south pilgrim trail across the whole island of Ireland that brings communities of different faiths and cultural traditions together extending from Ireland’s Ancient East, through the counties of Wexford, Carlow, Kildare, Meath and Cavan to Cleenish Island in Co Fermanagh, Monaghan, Armagh and Strangford Lough, Nendrum and Bangor, Co Down.

Stories of a Shared Island – A Community Media Project

Cork City Council

Stories of a Shared Island is a cross-border initiative uniting community media organisations from north and south to creatively explore identity, culture, and shared histories through their unique moving image archives. Featuring partners from Cork, Dublin, and Belfast, the project curates decades ... of community-led footage—much of it previously unseen—to spark dialogue and connection across the island. Through workshops, exchange visits, and public screenings, it fosters collaboration between media practitioners, cultural organisations, and local communities, while laying the groundwork for a future All-Island Community TV Service that celebrates diverse voices and local narratives.
For decades, community media organisations have quietly documented the creativity, resilience, and everyday lives of their communities. This project offers a rare and meaningful opportunity to connect those narratives across historical, political, and cultural lines—not through top-down media, but through the voices and images of ordinary people.

Fáilte go Gaillimh agus Feirste Thiar

Galway City Council

This project brings Galway City and Fáilte Feirste Thiar together with community organisations to explore the untapped potential for the Irish language to be an integral part of the visitor experience. Galway City, as the only official Gaeltacht city in the state, and West Belfast as the largest urb ... an Gaeltacht on the island of Ireland, are in a unique position to explore the opportunities of presenting the Irish language to visitors. Both areas are reliant on the tourism industry as an economic driver and the Irish language, and the communities that support it, is a unique selling point for these two cities as tourist destinations.

Through a series of exchanges, workshops, and presentations, participants will generate new ideas and creative approaches to better present the language and ensure it is central to the visitor’s cultural experience. Out of this collaboration, a final report of reflections and recommendations will be produced; a roadmap for Irish language tourism development – is ar scáth a chéile a mharóidh an pobal.

Hearth

Mayo County Council

Hearth is an initiative that pairs professional artists with older people experiencing isolation, offering creative engagement that is both enriching and empowering. As part of the Shared Island Project, the Hearth Collective is partnering with artists and organisations in Fermanagh to explore how t ... his successful Mayo-based model can be adapted in other rural contexts. Both regions share challenges of low population density and an ageing demographic, where isolation can impact health and wellbeing. Hearth brings art directly into people’s homes, creating safe, stimulating spaces for older individuals to explore their creativity. This is not simply a service—it’s a reciprocal exchange where artists deepen their professional practice through meaningful connection and collaboration. The project celebrates older people's voices and experiences, fostering dignity, joy, and artistic expression. By building creative bridges across borders, Hearth Shared Island promotes inclusion, wellbeing, and the transformative power of art in later life.

Shared Air: Circus Connects

Sligo County Council

In July 2025, Cairde Sligo Arts Festival and Festival of Fools partnered together on a vibrant North-South programme of circus, street theatre performances, workshops, talks and industry events; uniting exceptional artists from across the island of Ireland in a dynamic celebration of circus, street ... theatre, and outdoor arts. This initiative is rooted in the spirit of cross-cultural exchange, fostering meaningful connections between artists and communities from both the North and South through performance and cross community workshops. At its core, this programme is a joyful exploration of shared heritage, diversity, and creative expression, using the universal language of performance to transcend borders.

Play

South Dublin County Council

NOISE Music’s project ‘Play’ is in collaboration with Belfast-based artist Viva Dean, and Michael Speers a drummer, sound artist and researcher from County Down. This Shared Island partnership is designed to enable the exchange of expertise and resources across regions. By integrating DJing, sequenc ... ing, and sampling with live electronic music improvisation and deliver innovative live electronic music performance workshops, the core objective is to increase the interactivity of NOISE workshops, enhance the quality of performance outputs, and strengthen the creative and technical skills of young people working in digital audio media. Through this work the NOISE Music team will co-develop a transferable workshop model for wider programme use. Outputs include collaborative music compositions, taster workshops for young participants, and a live or streamed electronic performance event. These activities will also serve to evaluate the methodology and inform future programme development. A series of workshops and studio sessions with the NOISE Team which will take place in Dublin and Belfast from October 2025.

Old Head Young Shoulders

Kildare County Council

A collaborative creative project to develop a piece of contemporary theatre based on the issues facing young people in the communities of Coleraine and North-Kildare. It will be presented in Maynooth University on October 30th

Through devising and movement workshops, the young people ... explore what they hold in common and what is different between their communities. Over 6 days in the Hallowe’en break (25-30th October) 15 young people (aged 13-16) from each group will
visit each other’s respective community, taking it in turns to host, and immerse themselves in workshops considering social, political and historical themes pertinent to them. This project aims to empower these young people to tell their stories, placing them in a wider societal and historical context and presenting the voice of a new Ireland, 27 years after the Good Friday Agreement (1998), before these young people were born. Led by Hannah Reilly (Ever Unique, Coleraine) and Geraldine O’Brien (Straffan Drama Club).

To the Power of Three

Tallaght Community Arts

To the Power of 3 was a creative exchange between young people from Derry/Londonderry, Tallaght, Dublin and Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. The project utilised performance to explore the importance of cultural connection, diversity, pride of place, and what it means to...
To the Power of 3 was a c ... reative exchange between young people from Derry/Londonderry, Tallaght, Dublin and Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. The project utilised performance to explore the importance of cultural connection, diversity, pride of place, and what it means to be a young person on the island of Ireland today.

60 young participants came together for three creative exchanges, with approximately 20 participants from each of the project’s three creative partners: Creative Places Mac Uíllíam, Creative Places Enniscorthy, and FUSE/Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership. These Residentials took place in Dublin, Enniscorthy and Buncrana.

Participants shared ideas and inspirations from their own communities and their experiences of travelling to meet others. Their skills, talents and peer learning led to a site specific, promenade performance, a journey through theatre, spoken word, music and dance on the grounds of St. Columb’s Park House, Derry/Londonderry. This project shows the power of collective community engagement and the impact that arts participation can have on young people’s lives.
The artistic process was lead by directors Jenny Macdonald and Vlad Gurdis and facilitators from MakeyUppers, Freshly Ground Theatre and SoFFt Productions in collaboration with the young participants. The project was produced by Jennifer Webster.

A Shared Island Song writing Project

Music Generation Laois and The Nerve Centre – Isle of Song

Isle of Song brought together 50 young musicians from all over Ireland, North and South, to create, collaborate, and develop original music! Participants took part in two residential music camps in Laois and Antrim, travelling to new places and...
Isle of Song brought together 50 young musici ... ans from all over Ireland, North and South, to create, collaborate, and develop original music!
Participants took part in two residential music camps in Laois and Antrim, travelling to new places and wrote, recorded and released an album. The groups also performed at Stendhal Music Festival in Limavady and Kavanagh’s Live Music Venue in Portlaoise, nurturing their craft and experiencing the magic of working in a band with creative peers from across the island.
Isle of Song was led by Music Generation Laois in partnership with The Nerve Centre, Derry/Londonderry. A team of skilled professional musicians/mentors guided Isle of Song participants through the creative and performance process.
Songwriter Farah Elle, added her expertise to the project, alongside James Michael, internationally acclaimed Songwriter/Producer. The Isle of Song Showcase finale performances took place in Portlaoise and Derry/Londonderry in September and October respectively.

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Living Legends: A Cross-Border Cultural Exchange of Stories, Myth and Landscape

Narrative 4

Living Legends was a cultural exchange programme for young people aged 14 – 17 from across the island of Ireland. Living Legends aimed to foster creativity, storytelling, and artistic expression while exploring the rich cultural heritage of the island of...
Living Legends was a cultural excha ... nge programme for young people aged 14 – 17 from across the island of Ireland. Living Legends aimed to foster creativity, storytelling, and artistic expression while exploring the rich cultural heritage of the island of Ireland. This project was led by Narrative 4 in partnership with Festival in a Van and the Northern Ireland Youth Forum.
The project offered participants the opportunity to connect with peers who share a passion for storytelling and the arts, while taking part in engaging artist-led workshops in Limerick.
Through partaking in the project, participants learned about folklore and traditions through immersive residentials. They explored breath-taking cultural and historical locations such as the Giants Causeway ,Inis Mór and Carlingford The project will culminate with the launch of a professionally designed anthology of the participants’ work.

Future Parade

Macnas

Future Parade was a Shared Island project supported by four leading arts organisations: Macnas, Belfast International Arts Festival, EastSide Arts, and Féile an Phobail. Designed to bring together young people from diverse backgrounds, the initiative used the spectacle of parade...
Future Par ... ade was a Shared Island project supported by four leading arts organisations: Macnas, Belfast International Arts Festival, EastSide Arts, and Féile an Phobail. Designed to bring together young people from diverse backgrounds, the initiative used the spectacle of parade to explore shared stories, cultural identity, and community connection.

Since March 2025, teenagers from across Belfast and Galway collaborated on the project, imagining how a new generation might creatively animate our streets. Participants worked closely with professional artists in sustainable design, performance, storytelling, and placemaking.

Through weekly workshops and residential weekends, they gained practical skills in spectacle arts, while building friendships across geographical and cultural divides. The programme promotes creative dialogue and hands-on learning, encouraging participants to think critically, solve problems, and collaborate meaningfully.

By combining the expertise of established cultural organisations, Future Parade offered young people a platform to lead conversations about identity, community, and the future they want to shape together. The Finale performance of the Future Parade took place in Belfast on the 30th October as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival.

Shared Lived Experience Through Creative Arts

Extern NI

The Shared Island Creative Arts Project was a transformative theatre initiative that engaged young people aged 13-24 from Greater Belfast, Newcastle, Drogheda, Galway, and Dublin who have diverse and complex needs. A central component of the project is the use...
The Shared Island Creative Ar ... ts Project was a transformative theatre initiative that engaged young people aged 13-24 from Greater Belfast, Newcastle, Drogheda, Galway, and Dublin who have diverse and complex needs. A central component of the project is the use of techniques inspired by Theatre of the Oppressed. This innovative approach allows participants to explore and communicate their experiences in a creative and meaningful way, empowering them to reflect on their personal experiences and societal issues through performance.

In partnership with the MAC, Belfast, the project was delivered through the Creative Youth Work approach, which emphasises building strong, trusting relationships between staff and young people through engagement in creative activities.

By working at the young people’s own pace, the project ensured that each participant felt valued and heard. The team was dedicated to listening to the voices of these young people, responding to their needs, and fostering an inclusive space for personal and artistic development. The groups will perform live at the MAC Theatre in Belfast on 28th and 29th November and the Droichead Arts Theatre in Drogheda on 4th December.

Creative Connections - Shared Writing Across the Island

Fighting Words

Creative Connections was a cross-border creative writing project by Fighting Words, Fighting Words NI and Graffiti Theatre Company. From October 2024 to June 2025, Fighting Words worked with community groups in Belfast, Newry, Armagh, Louth, Monaghan, Dublin and Cork....
Creative Connections ... was a cross-border creative writing project by Fighting Words, Fighting Words NI and Graffiti Theatre Company.
From October 2024 to June 2025, Fighting Words worked with community groups in Belfast, Newry, Armagh, Louth, Monaghan, Dublin and Cork. The project was open to young people aged 15-24 and each programme was delivered by professional artists.
Groups were paired with a group across the border, and together they embarked on a shared writing quest. Each pairing decided together how they would collaborate, choosing which styles of writing they want to explore (e.g. stories, scripts, songs, poetry), and how they wanted to showcase their work (e.g. in a print publication, a podcast or a performance).
This project encouraged the participants to develop their creative freedom and decision-making, enhance their confidence and self-expression skills and to discover the joy of writing.

Creative Cafés

Monaghan County Council

Initiated in the summer of 2024, the Creative Cafés initiative brings people together via a series of creative workshops and networking and capacity building events that foster their health and wellbeing and promote their social inclusion. Target groups include members...
Initiated in the sum ... mer of 2024, the Creative Cafés initiative brings people together via a series of creative workshops and networking and capacity building events that foster their health and wellbeing and promote their social inclusion. Target groups include members of new communities/minority groups, older adults, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing mental health issues, socio-economic disadvantage and rural isolation. The project also provides opportunities for cross-border engagement, collaboration and capacity building between health professionals, community-based support services and creative practitioners.
Creative Café programmes have run in the Monaghan and Fermanagh border region and have seen high levels of engagement.

Weaving Worlds Together

Kerry County Council

Weaving Worlds Together focuses on creative engagement through participation in the traditional Irish crafts in Ireland and helping with their preservation. Highlighting aspects of cultural heritage, and their significant role in bringing communities together, this workshop series includes basket we ... aving...
Weaving Worlds Together focuses on creative engagement through participation in the traditional Irish crafts in Ireland and helping with their preservation. Highlighting aspects of cultural heritage, and their significant role in bringing communities together, this workshop series includes basket weaving /willow weaving, ceramics and textiles.
Key to the initiative is providing opportunities for members of communities, North and South of Ireland, to support their health and wellbeing through opportunities to engage with creativity in their community.
Taking place at Family Resource Centres and Healthy Living Centres on both sides of the border, the activities are available through Social Prescribing Services.

The Art of Life

Cavan County Council

Creatives play a key role in this project which normalises conversations around death, dying and planning for end of life, using a range of creative approaches to facilitate these sensitive discussions. Participating artists are socially engaged, employing reflective practice and...
Creatives ... play a key role in this project which normalises conversations around death, dying and planning for end of life, using a range of creative approaches to facilitate these sensitive discussions. Participating artists are socially engaged, employing reflective practice and with great sensitivity, and being upskilled to support and develop the incentive’s delivery. Participants are encouraged to plan and communicate Advance Care Plans.
Capacity building in Cavan and neighbouring Fermanagh and Tyrone; Death Positive Libraries; Creative Sessions comprising topical creative workshops for people in Cavan and Fermanagh-Omagh local authority areas; and an immersive drama around an Irish wake all feature in a programme developed to maximise reach within communities and build a lasting legacy.

‘Dear Future Me’ - Promoting Positive Mental Health Through Creative Expression On Our Shared Island

Louth County Council

This cross-border initiative is designed for young people aged 10-18 in Louth and Newry, Mourne, and Down who are facing loneliness, isolation, and poor mental health. There are several elements to this creative programme, which focuses on connecting, activity, awareness,...
This cross-border ... initiative is designed for young people aged 10-18 in Louth and Newry, Mourne, and Down who are facing loneliness, isolation, and poor mental health. There are several elements to this creative programme, which focuses on connecting, activity, awareness, learning and sharing.
The initiative culminates with the ‘Dear Future Me’ Festival in 2025, where achievements will be showcased through community gatherings, performances and exhibitions, reinforcing a sense of pride and celebration.
The facilitation of opportunities for hands-on learning and skill-building contributing to personal growth and self-expression is at the heart of the initiative.

Take 5

Donegal County Council

The Take 5 creative health and wellbeing project aims for participants to build self-esteem and resilience and develop a creative mindset. The programme will take place over five weeks around five themes: ‘give’, ‘be active’, ‘keep learning’, ‘take notice’ and...
The Take 5 creative health an ... d wellbeing project aims for participants to build self-esteem and resilience and develop a creative mindset. The programme will take place over five weeks around five themes: ‘give’, ‘be active’, ‘keep learning’, ‘take notice’ and ‘connect’; culminating in an event bringing all participants together.
The project connects partners and participants in Donegal and Derry City and Strabane District Council areas with creative activities and cultural practitioners, to creatively explore a broad range of activities including visual and performing arts, heritage experiences, music, dance, drama, creative writing, storytelling, crafts, digital arts and gardening.

Divergently Together

Dublin City University

Divergently Together is a shared-island community engagement project that uses STEM technologies to facilitate the participation of disabled and neurodivergent communities in climate action. Led by AlanJames Burns, together with Creative Ireland, DCU and Research Ireland, the project advocates for.. ... .
Divergently Together is a shared-island community engagement project that uses STEM technologies to facilitate the participation of disabled and neurodivergent communities in climate action. Led by AlanJames Burns, together with Creative Ireland, DCU and Research Ireland, the project advocates for a just transition while breaking down stigmas around neurodiversity and disability in the process.
Climate change disproportionately affects disabled communities through eco-ableism, lack of accessible information, physical vulnerabilities in extreme weather events, increased sensitivity in heat waves due to critical medications, and lack of access to funding in climate action projects. People with lived experience of disability bring vital skills needed to address the climate crisis, including resilience, resourcefulness, and specialised knowledge for navigating a world of obstacles. Individuals with neurodiversity also offer creative, non-linear thinking that could greatly enhance climate mitigation strategies—though they remain largely excluded from climate action efforts.
Through a series of creative workshops and discussions, these communities co-design neurodivergent friendly responses to the climate emergency, while also building climate literacy and opening up dialogue with climate stakeholders. By connecting with local authorities and policymakers, the project works to ensure climate strategies become more inclusive, accessible, and reflective of the diverse realities of the disability community.

Shifting Tides and Sea Change: Creative Coastal Conversations

The Wheel and NICVA

Shifting Tides is a creative arts and marine ecology project connecting coastal communities on both shores of Carlingford Lough, across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Bringing together artists, scientists, oyster farmers, divers, swimmers, and local...
Shifti ... ng Tides is a creative arts and marine ecology project connecting coastal communities on both shores of Carlingford Lough, across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Bringing together artists, scientists, oyster farmers, divers, swimmers, and local groups, the project has used diverse creative arts, performance, and hands-on ecological engagement to deepen connection to the lough’s beauty, biodiversity, and bounty.
Focusing on vital habitats like seagrass meadows and native oyster beds, Shifting Tides highlighted their role in storing carbon, supporting marine life, and helping coastal communities adapt to climate change. Through workshops, performances, oral history, foraging, scientific diving, and collaborative art-making, participants explore new ways to care for and restore these marine ecosystems while celebrating cultural heritage.
By blending creativity, community, and science, Shifting Tides inspires awareness, stewardship, and sustainable livelihoods — showing that a healthy, restored marine environment is essential for a thriving, climate-resilient future.

Creative Boardroom: Collaborate4Climate

Institute of Directors (IoD) Ireland, IoD Northern Ireland, and Creative Futures Academy (CFA)

Creative Boardroom: Collaborate4Climate is a pioneering all-island initiative harnessing creativity, leadership, and North–South collaboration to address the urgent challenge of climate change. Led by the Institute of Directors (IoD) Ireland, the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland, and Creative ... Futures Academy,...
Creative Boardroom: Collaborate4Climate is a pioneering all-island initiative harnessing creativity, leadership, and North–South collaboration to address the urgent challenge of climate change. Led by the Institute of Directors (IoD) Ireland, the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland, and Creative Futures Academy, the first phase in 2024 brought together chartered directors, students, designers, entrepreneurs, and innovators with a shared ambition to design actionable solutions for our planet. Participants engaged in workshops grounded in design thinking, generating ideas that culminated in a sustainable exhibition at NCAD in December 2024. Highlighting key climate priorities: transport and mobility, the built environment, agriculture and food, and consumables - the exhibition showcased the power of cross-sector and cross-border collaboration. In 2025, phase two will see the exhibition tour host organisations across the island of Ireland. Creative Boardroom will also expand its programme of design thinking workshops, embedding climate insight into leadership and organisational decision-making.

Circus Explored

ISACS

Circus Explored introduces children and young people from across the Island of Ireland to the joy of circus through playful, hands-on participation. The project is a vibrant national initiative led by the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS)...
Circus Explored introduces ch ... ildren and young people from across the Island of Ireland to the joy of circus through playful, hands-on participation. The project is a vibrant national initiative led by the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS) in association with Creative Ireland and the Shared Island Initiative, and delivered in partnership with Galway Community Circus, Dublin Circus Project, Cloughjordan Circus Club, Circus Factory Cork, In Your Space Circus (Derry) and Circusful (Belfast). A core focus of the project is the strengthening of cross-border connections between young people through the Shared Island Exchanges. The exchanges foster collaboration between the circus schools, enabling young people to exchange ideas, develop skills, forge new friendships, build lasting connections and build stronger ties through the medium of circus. Circus Explored inspires creativity, builds confidence, grows collaboration and establishes lasting connections.

Youth Theatre Ireland

A celebration of young voices

Youth Theatre Island is a partnership initiative between Youth Theatre Ireland, Theatre and Dance NI and venues across the island to celebrate youth theatre and young people as artists. The ambitious 3-year programme will showcase plays written by, for,...
Youth Theatre Island is a partnershi ... p initiative between Youth Theatre Ireland, Theatre and Dance NI and venues across the island to celebrate youth theatre and young people as artists.

The ambitious 3-year programme will showcase plays written by, for, and with young people, premier new plays devised and written as part of the artistic development of the programme and will culminate in the first all-island National Youth Theatre programme in 2027.

This artistically ambitious project marks a significant development in the relationship between Youth Theatre Ireland and Theatre and Dance NI, in supporting the social, personal and artistic development of young people across the island of Ireland.

The all-island National Youth Theatre in 2027 will showcase 4 new works, in 4 venues, written and performed by youth theatre members, giving artistic voice to young people across the island.

RTÉ This is Art

RTÉ This Is Art! is a more than a competition, and a website. It’s a creative collection, an encyclopaedic educational resource, an inclusive accessible community, an artist’s showcase, and an editorial platform aimed at young people from across Ireland....
RTÉ This Is Art! is a more than a c ... ompetition, and a website. It’s a creative collection, an encyclopaedic educational resource, an inclusive accessible community, an artist’s showcase, and an editorial platform aimed at young people from across Ireland.
The platform celebrates art and artists through featured stories, makers, techniques and tutorials with the hope of sparking inspiration among website visitors and helping to bridge the gap between the emerging and the established creatives.
Over the past three years, This is Art! by RTÉ Kids, and the Creative Ireland Programme has established a unique creative arts platform filled with young artists' work and dozens of stories from creative practitioners from across the island of Ireland.

The mission is to showcase young artists and highlight the messy and magical creative process behind each piece of work.

Rhyme Island

Rhyme Island, was an innovative, creative initiative, aimed to promote rap as a powerful tool for self-expression among young people across the island of Ireland. In 2023, through a national call-out, groups of marginalised young people participated in workshops, creating...
Rhyme Island, was ... an innovative, creative initiative, aimed to promote rap as a powerful tool for self-expression among young people across the island of Ireland. In 2023, through a national call-out, groups of marginalised young people participated in workshops, creating a collection of heartfelt songs reflecting the experiences of these young people. These songs found their spotlight not only online but also on various national platforms.

Among the numerous highlights, the initiative facilitated collaborations across national and unionist communities in Northern Ireland and involved young aspirants from the Kabin Studio as junior tutors.

Feedback from both participants and youth workers/staff highlights the overwhelmingly positive outcomes of the workshops. Participants reported increased comfort in expressing themselves through rap and songwriting, along with the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. Youth workers praised the professionalism and effectiveness of the facilitators, noting that the workshops helped young people overcome reluctance and build confidence.

Our Future – A Youth Centre Twinning Initiative

Dublin City Council

In 2024, Dublin City Council partnered with Prime Cut Productions in Belfast to launch a six-month youth exchange programme connecting young people from both cities as part of Cruinniú na nÓg. Over the course of several day trips and a...
In 2024, Dublin City Council partnered with Prime Cut ... Productions in Belfast to launch a six-month youth exchange programme connecting young people from both cities as part of Cruinniú na nÓg. Over the course of several day trips and a residential stay, 16 participants collaborated to produce two short films, which were later screened at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin and the MAC in Belfast.

Building on the success of this pilot, the programme expanded in 2025 through a new partnership involving Dublin City Council, Galway City Council, and Prime Cut Productions. Youth groups from Dublin, Galway, and Belfast took part in an extended exchange that included residential stays in Galway and Belfast, and a day trip to Dublin. Over four months, the participants co-created a new short film, which premiered as part of Cruinniú na nÓg celebrations in Galway City.

Songlines

Leitrim County Council

Songlines is a cross-border music development and performance project connecting emerging singer-songwriters and bands from Leitrim and Derry. Through expert-led training, creative collaboration, and genre-based showcases, it equips artists with the skills and support to build sustainable careers. A ... t its...
Songlines is a cross-border music development and performance project connecting emerging singer-songwriters and bands from Leitrim and Derry. Through expert-led training, creative collaboration, and genre-based showcases, it equips artists with the skills and support to build sustainable careers. At its heart, Songlines celebrates the power of music to transcend borders and generations—uniting communities, amplifying new voices, and telling the story of a shared island through sound.

Spoke ‘n’ Folk – part of The Ties That Bind project

Cork County Council

On Saturday, 7th June 2025, a unique cross-border music project launched at Levis Corner House, Ballydehob and The Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast joined forces for Spoke ‘n’ Folk, part of Creative Ireland’s Cruinniú na nÓg and the Shared Island Initiative....
On Saturday, 7th June 2025, a uniq ... ue cross-border music project launched at Levis Corner House, Ballydehob and The Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast joined forces for Spoke ‘n’ Folk, part of Creative Ireland’s Cruinniú na nÓg and the Shared Island Initiative. On the same day, young artists in West Cork and Belfast took part in workshops, mentorship sessions, and live performances, celebrating creativity in their own communities while laying the groundwork for future collaboration.

In Belfast, TG4 Gradam Ceoil bursary winners and the Duncairn Trad Collective led traditional music workshops and a family concert, while in Ballydehob, young musicians, poets, and spoken word artists developed original work and shared it with audiences at Levis’. The two groups then connected virtually, exchanging music and ideas before meeting in person. The project will culminate in November when the group comes together to record the music they have created together.

Climate and Health: A Cross-Border Creative Initiative

Wexford County Council

A collaboration between The MAC and local schools including St. Louise's Comprehensive and Hazelwood Integrated College. Through creative mind mapping, story development exercises, local knowledge and immersive technologies, these themes have informed a dynamic narrative. This narrative is rooted in ... ...
A collaboration between The MAC and local schools including St. Louise's Comprehensive and Hazelwood Integrated College. Through creative mind mapping, story development exercises, local knowledge and immersive technologies, these themes have informed a dynamic narrative. This narrative is rooted in the idea of ‘Fake News’, i.e. the fake news relating to Climate Change and Health that is pedaled to young people through social media channels.

The development of critical thinking skills in Phase 2 empowered social-media oriented young people to actively and skillfully analyse information through questioning and reasoning, and result in a healthier society that can pro-actively address the climate crisis. While the issues of Climate Change and Health are global, they are also hyper-local and personal. This means that while the region in which we live determines one aspect of our experience, the wider reverberations link us to those in other regions, giving us the ability to empathise and share commonalities.

Being Ourselves

Mayo County Council

Being Ourselves was a cross-border creative initiative connecting children from Attymass NS, Co. Mayo, and St. Colman’s PS, Annaclone, Co. Down through the Cruinniú na nÓg Shared Island Project. Led by Kids’ Own artists and writers, the project featured imaginative...
Being Ourselves was a cr ... oss-border creative initiative connecting children from Attymass NS, Co. Mayo, and St. Colman’s PS, Annaclone, Co. Down through the Cruinniú na nÓg Shared Island Project. Led by Kids’ Own artists and writers, the project featured imaginative workshops exploring identity, place, and community. Sessions took place in Mayo and at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery in Banbridge, Co. Down, where children created art inspired by exhibitions and shared stories through drawing and writing. A joyful meetup at Enniskillen Castle brought both groups together for collaborative activities, games, and song. Their creativity culminated in a public exhibition at Ballina Civic Centre, showcasing their artwork alongside pieces from the TADA! exhibition. The project fostered new friendships, cultural exchange, and artistic confidence, with children expressing themselves through vibrant, personal creations. Supported by Creative Ireland’s Shared Island Initiative and Mayo County Council, Being Ourselves celebrates the power of creativity to connect communities and build a shared future.

Cruinniú for all

Cavan County Council

A vibrant and inclusive programme was delivered to celebrate community through creativity, imagination, and shared experiences. Designed to ensure that everyone felt welcome — the initiative invited children and young people of all abilities, with their families, to play, create,...
A vibrant ... and inclusive programme was delivered to celebrate community through creativity, imagination, and shared experiences. Designed to ensure that everyone felt welcome — the initiative invited children and young people of all abilities, with their families, to play, create, and connect.
Recognising the diverse needs of participants, the programme offered a varied and adaptive schedule, including collaborations with a range of creatives. Specialised sessions were held cross border in Holy Family School, Cootehill, and Willowbridge School, Enniskillen, ensuring meaningful engagement within special educational settings.
As part of Cruinniú na nÓg, a public family fun day was hosted at the fully inclusive Share Centre. The event featured interactive zones, sensory-friendly spaces, hands-on creative workshops, collaborative mural painting and inclusive dance and drumming.
Trained staff supported individuals with disabilities. Activities were thoughtfully tailored to accommodate a range of sensory needs, ensuring a welcoming and enriching experience for all.

Bridging Borders, Embracing Diversity

Donegal County Council

As part of the Cruinniú na nÓg and Shared Island 2024 initiative, Donegal County Council partnered with Scoil Cholmcille and Eglington primary schools to deliver a cross-border, cross-community intercultural Arts and Cultural Diversity project. The ‘Bridging Borders, Embracing Diversity’...
A ... s part of the Cruinniú na nÓg and Shared Island 2024 initiative, Donegal County Council partnered with Scoil Cholmcille and Eglington primary schools to deliver a cross-border, cross-community intercultural Arts and Cultural Diversity project.
The ‘Bridging Borders, Embracing Diversity’ project established a cross-border, cross-community arts and cultural diversity programme for two primary schools—one in Donegal and one in Derry.
This initiative was designed to encourage cultural exchange, promote understanding, and celebrate diversity among pupils, educators, and the wider community.
Artists shared their skills with pupils from each school, their teachers, parents/guardians and grandparents. Using Dance/movement, storytelling and music pupils celebrated the diverse student populations through arts practice. This project took place during school hours over the week leading up to Cruinniú na nÓg, culminating with intercultural promotion days in each school.

Border Beats

Monaghan County Council

Border Beats was a Shared Island Cruinniú initiative that brought together children and young people from communities along the Monaghan–Fermanagh border, through music and the arts. The project’s flagship Cruinniú Day event was held in Clones Library, selected for its...
Border Beats was a S ... hared Island Cruinniú initiative that brought together children and young people from communities along the Monaghan–Fermanagh border, through music and the arts. The project’s flagship Cruinniú Day event was held in Clones Library, selected for its accessibility to both sides of the border. Over 150 attendees enjoyed a vibrant programme featuring performances by Monaghan’s Ukrainian Youth Ensemble, the cross-border Strum for Fun Ukulele group, Clones Youth Choir, and the Eco Beats sustainable drumming group. With additional Cruinniú funding, the project continued throughout autumn and winter 2024. During this time, children from Knockatallon (County Monaghan) and Maguiresbridge (County Fermanagh) created a series of murals inspired by the biodiversity of the Sliabh Beagh mountain area, which straddles the border. Meanwhile, children and young people from both counties collaborated to plan and rehearse for a Shared Island Cruinniú Christmas Concert, which took place in Knockatallon in December 2024

Circus and Beyond

South Dublin County Council

Doulab for Circus and Dance, based in South Dublin, collaborated with Circusful in Belfast in bringing together two groups of young people: Doulab Youth Ensemble from Dublin, the refugee community, and the travelling community, and in the North from Circusful’s...
Doulab for Circus and Dance, ... based in South Dublin, collaborated with Circusful in Belfast in bringing together two groups of young people: Doulab Youth Ensemble from Dublin, the refugee community, and the travelling community, and in the North from Circusful’s Youth Circus, and outreach participants. They used contemporary circus as a tool for artistic exchange and meaningful youth led cross-border collaboration, building strong connections over the course of 6 cross-border meetings, and 9 workshops within their own groups. They decided together (guided by the artist facilitators using Hub na nÓg framework) on a youth-led public performance in Dublin for Cruinniú na nÓg. They came together again to review the project and participated in a final evaluation workshop session. All parties to this project are highly experienced in working with marginalised communities, strongly increasing their success in overcoming the big challenges involved with bringing these young people together.

Convergence

South Dublin County Council

Convergence was a Shared Island multi-disciplinary youth arts project in 2024, that explored what a shared island means to two groups of young people from Tallaght and Derry/Londonderry. During the weeks preceding Cruinniú na nÓg, Freshly Ground Theatre worked with...
Convergence was a Shared ... Island multi-disciplinary youth arts project in 2024, that explored what a shared island means to two groups of young people from Tallaght and Derry/Londonderry. During the weeks preceding Cruinniú na nÓg, Freshly Ground Theatre worked with Creative Places MacUíllíam in Tallaght, the Waterside Theatre and Arts Centre in Derry/Londonderry, the MakeyUppers and an LGBTQ+ group from the Rainbow Project, to explore what a shared Island means to them. During these workshops the groups used automatic writing prompts, physical tableaux and scenes, film and photography to explore place, space, community, otherness and connection to place and to create a 'care package’ to send and share with the other group. During Cruinniú na nÓg, the young people from each group invited members of the public to their 'place' to contribute to the project through conversation and collective brainstorming. Post-boxes in each location were available for the public to share thoughts on what a shared island means.

Our World – Celebration of Cultures

Donegal County Council

In delivering Our World – Celebration of Cultures, a cross-border, cross-community intercultural arts project, Donegal County Council partnered with the following primary schools: St. Thérèse’s, Nazareth House, Good Shepherd (Derry). St. Mary’s, Sessiaghoneill and Dooish (Donegal). This project prom ... oted cultural...
In delivering Our World – Celebration of Cultures, a cross-border, cross-community intercultural arts project, Donegal County Council partnered with the following primary schools: St. Thérèse’s, Nazareth House, Good Shepherd (Derry). St. Mary’s, Sessiaghoneill and Dooish (Donegal). This project promoted cultural exchange, mutual understanding and the celebration of diversity among pupils, educators, families and the wider community.
Artists and creative practitioners led three full-day workshops in dance/movement, storytelling puppetry and music, engaging pupils and teachers. The diverse student body was reflected in the arts practices in working through themes of place, identity and belonging.
The project strengthened cross-border collaboration between the Donegal and Derry-Londonderry communities and included identity puppets created in workshops. The project established a sustainable legacy by creating a model for future cross-border arts and cultural initiatives.

Relationships built among schools, artists, and communities laid the foundation for continued collaboration, while creative outputs and shared experiences inspired lasting cultural appreciation and understanding.